Darkus Knightley's 5 top tips on being a detective:
1. Always keep your
eyes and ears open. When you walk into a room try to make a mental note of
every object in the room, and every face. You never know when some small detail
might be essential to solving the case.
2. When you sit in a
cafe or restaurant, always sit at the back of the room, facing the entrance.
That way, no one can get in or out without you observing them. (NOTE: This tip
unfortunately also applies to criminals when they're spotting detectives - so
beware of anyone else sitting alone at the back of the room.)
3. Try to carry a
magnifying glass, a jewellers loupe (a lens for observing fine detail), or a
well equipped phone camera to examine any clues.
4. When following a
suspect, always keep plenty of obstacles nearby to hide behind if they turn
around. Preferably use shop windows, lamp posts or parked cars. Burying your
head in a newspaper is a bit obvious, but a Kindle may suffice.
5. Always carry plenty
of small ziploc bags for collecting evidence. They may also come in handy if a
dog walker forgets to bring their own and walks away from the scene of their
pet's crime.
Darkus Knightley's top crime-solving playlist:
The same way Sherlock
enjoyed playing the violin, Darkus finds a well-stocked iPod helps him solve
any number of tricky criminal cases. Here are a few of his favourites:
1. It's A New Day -
James Brown
Darkus likes the
driving groove of the JBs’ rhythm section, led by legendary bassist Bootsy
Collins and the original “funky drummer” Clyde Stubblefield. And of course
there's the very fitting refrain: "Can I get a witness?"
2. We Can Work It Out -
The Beatles
Darkus likes this
upbeat Lennon & McCartney refrain, cut with a certain air of melancholy in
the lyrics: "Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and
fighting my friend. I have always thought that it's a crime. So I will ask you
once again."
3. Murder By Numbers -
The Police
Darkus is a big Police
fan and this darker entry in the canon was originally the B-side of Every Breath You Take--of course that
was in the day of "vinyl singles". Darkus has seen photographic
evidence to confirm that these small plastic records did once exist.
4. Necessary Evil
- Hans Zimmer
Sometimes film music
can bring just the right mood needed to solve a plot. This track from Batman: The Dark Knight does just that.
5. A Fistful of
Dynamite (also known as Duck You Sucker!) - Ennio Morricone
This movie theme is
from a rare film by Sergio Leone who directed the classic "spaghetti
westerns" with Clint Eastwood. Darkus can almost imagine lolloping through
the desert saddled to a black Mustang with a six-shooter at his side.
6. The Professionals theme - Laurie Johnson & the London Studio
Orchestra
One of the great TV
themes, and Darkus's dad Alan's favourite TV show of all time. Ever. (Magnum P.I. is a close second.)
7. Look No Further -
Dido
This sweet songbird
knew Darkus when he was first becoming a detective, and he's had a soft spot
for her ever since.
8. The 007 Theme - Monty
Norman
When Darkus has cracked
a case, he may not be able to have a Martini, but he can blast the classic Bond
theme. He has also been known to imitate the James Bond walk in his bedroom
mirror.
K-9 (Knightley and Son #2) by Rohan Gavin is released today
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